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People

"Well, first and foremost we’re looking for people who will be able very well to think outside the box, be innovative and think about difficult situations. So we’re looking for intellectual ability but aligned with that we’re looking for, you know, individuality – characteristics which make people interesting, able to work easily with other people, work in teams, and just have that ability to think round a subject, and to think carefully and innovatively about a subject."

Sarah: "I think that’s absolutely right because what we want are people who can understand the client’s problems, and then and then see what solutions they can come up with and deliver the solution to the client. So being clever is obviously the starting point but actually having lots of common sense, lots of practical ability, lots of focus, and actually getting the job done is what we’re looking for; and that can come in many different packages. There isn’t just one particular type of trainee that we’re looking for – we’re looking for people who have the whole range of skills, and they come in very different packages."

"I thought being such a successful firm, such a well-known firm, I expected it to be a lot more intimidating and the mood to be quite serious and sombre and… just quite scary… and it hasn’t been at all. People are so pleasant and so much more relaxed than I ever expected they would be and the general atmosphere in the firm is so friendly – it’s been a pleasant surprise."

"I think there’s one element that really binds the people at Slaughter and May, and that is an intellectual curiosity. People are very inquisitive about what they do. They do genuinely care about the work, and I think that shows in the way people approach the work."

"Working here is incredible because you get to meet people from lots of different places. I’m from India, I have colleagues who are from Nigeria and Canada and Singapore, who’ve grown up in different places and who’ve had very different experiences culturally or educationally. And even from within the UK, you have people who’ve grown up in different places, who’ve lived abroad, done very different things before they’ve become lawyers. So, in that sense, it’s incredibly diverse and I think that makes for a great working environment, because people have different experiences and that comes through in how you work, the sort of experiences you have and what you’re interested in doing."

"We really celebrate diversity here: there are several diversity groups that cater to different kinds of diversity. And, what I mean by that is that we have, for instance, a diversity group dedicated to racial and ethnic diversity; we have a Muslim network; we have a Christian network; we have a Jewish network; and, these various networks and committees are run by trainees, associates and non-fee earners and it’s a chance for them to get together to organise events that are very exciting and that are open to everybody. And everyone in the firm really enjoys that and really enjoys taking part."